Display device



C. CLARK DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 10, 1955 INENTOR.

'i'f f/f ATTORNEY.

har/eg Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a toy or advertising device in the form of a miniature stage with a scene in the background and with animals or objects standing in the foreground, which may be provided in book or folder form and readily cut out and set up by relatively small children.

The invention is a book or folder, preferably made of paper or cardboard, in which one page contains a representation of the front of a stage or the proscenium arch, and is arranged so that the opening may readily be cut or pressed out, another page contains a scene which may be shaped and set up to form a back drop, and in which animals, plants, trees or other objects are provided on another page or on the back of the cut-out portion of the stage front, and these parts are so arranged that they may readily be shaped and set up to form a stage setting or the like.

Many similar devices have been provided in l which dolls, figures, toys and the like have been printed in books, on boxes, and on cardboard and the like, and these have been arranged in different combinations and used for different purposes. Other devices have also been provided in which parts may be set up to represent different objects, and other parts or objects may be used in combination therewith, but any device has not 39 been provided which may be set up to represent a stage setting or the like, in which the parts may be supplied in book or folder form so that they may be readily pressed or cut and shaped to form a frame with a scene in the background,

and with smaller objects adapted to be set up between the frame and background, and also in which one may'look through the frame to see the objects and a scene on the background.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to

provide a toy, advertising or display device in the form of a miniature stage with a frame through which one may look to see a scene in combination with movable objects, which may be supplied in book or folder form at a relatively nominal price.

Another object is to provide a method of folding sheets of material to form a stage setting which enables the sheets of material to be provided in folder or book form. A further object is to provide a display device in the form of a stage setting in which different color schemes and effects may be ob tained by using different colored transparent, or partly transparent, drops or curtains.

And a still further object is to provide a minia ture stage setting which may be supplied in book or folder form, and readily set up, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a folder or book of relatively stiff mate- 5.

rial having a representation of a stage front on one sheet, a scene on another sheet, animals or objects on another sheet, and a legend printed on some part thereof, and adaptedto be readily cut or pressed out and set up.

Other features andadvantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, whereinz Figure l is a view showing the device as. it may be provided in book form. 15

Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the device, set up.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a cross section through the device as it may be provided in book form, showing the back drop on which the scene is printed, supplied as a separate out out, and mounted in slots in" a base, by tabs extending therefrom.

Figure 5 is a similar section showing an alternate design in which the back is attached to the edge of the base and set up by folding the edge of the base over.

Figure 6 is a view showing the device as it may be provided in the form of a folder with the parts open.

Figure 7 is a view showing an alternate design in which the device is provided in box form similar to .a cereal container with the scene and other parts printed on the interior, and with the sides and ends of the'container scored or marked so that they may be readily folded and. setup, and it is shown with the top omitted.

Figure 8 is a view showing the design shown in Figure '7 set up. I

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be made wherein numeral I indicates the frame or representation of the stage front, numeral 2 the back upon which the scene is printed or pro-' vided, and numeral 3 a base. It will be noted that these parts are made slightly different in some. of the designs, but the respective parts are referred to by the same reference numerals, I, 2" and 3 respectively, in order to facilitate the description thereof. r

In the design shown in Figure 1 the device is formed in book form andthe book is provided with 4 pages, 4, 5,6 an I, and the frame l is shown as formed on page 4, the animals or other ob-. jects and also the text or legend may be provided on page 5, the back drop and scene on page 6, and page 'I is preferably used as the base. The pages 4 and I are formed of one sheet of material folded at the point 8 forming the back, and the pages 5 and 6 are also formed of one sheet of material which is also folded at the back. With the page 1 positioned horizontally or upon a fiat surface to form the back. The page 4 may be set upright in a perpendicular position with the central part removed so that it will form the frame,'and the back 2 may becut or pressed from the page 6 and set upon the base 3, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. 'I'he'animals 9 may be cut from the page 5 and set upon the base 3, or they may be partially cut from the base 3 and folded upward to stand perpendicularly thereon between frame I and back 2.

It will ,be understood, however, that this a'rrange I ment is only suggestive, as the respective parts maybe provided on'any of the other pages andas many pages may be used as desired. The pages I are preferably connected by wire staples I0 and 'cuton lines H from the edges of the sheet inward to the lower ends of lines I8 whichform the ends 7 of the frame and the flaps I6 are folded on these lines. At the'lower end of the frame I is a fold line I9 providing aseparating strip 20 between the fold'point 8 and thepoint I9 which is folded on topof the base 3'as. shown-inFigure 4. In

' setting up the device the opening in. the frame I is formed by pressing a. sheet of material 2I out I 'of the center, and the edges of this sheet of mas in ig r 5, the fold line 35 will coincide with a terlalfmay be cut. on the rectangle formed by the 'lines 22, 23, 24 and25, or the sheet 4may'be scored or partly cut so that the part 2I may readilybe removed. Cuts may then be made on the lines I1 and the frame 6 may be folded'upward i at the point I9 as shown in, Figure 4. The flaps 5 may thenbefolded backward so that the frame I isin the. Position shown in Figure 3; The back 2 may then be removed from the sheet 6 and the ends may be curved asshown at the point 26, in

,Fi ure 3, and the tabs l3 placed through the slits I4 and I5 in the flaps I6. The lower edge 21 of the backrz'may also be provided with tabs 28, 29

' nd as nd cated by the dotted lines in Fi and; these tabsmay be inserted through. lots 3|,

3% and 3.3 in the ba e 3, as shown in' Fi ures 3 an 4s Th animals may then'be cut r pressed from the sheet 5 and these may be setup as shown in Fi ures 2 and by folding tabs at the ends toward either side, or they may be provided with flanges 34 at the bottom which may be'folded at right an les-torr vi e a base, 7 -pIn Fi urci' the par s It 2 and 3 ar f m d. on a continuoussheet o f'material, and this: is dividedinto sect ns byfo d lines 35and 36 an the lower end of the frame I and als t e tire frame is shaped and folded as-shown in Figures 1 and 3, whereas the back 1 pos t p the base 3 by folding the base n e l ne 3Iand fold-t in the back 'z-upwar'd on he ne 35 and w th the rear edge of the base folded over, as shown the line as, as shown at the points 3 n t e edges mayheprovided with slits 41) similar to thef slits I2 shown in Figure 1, and these may be inserted in slits II in the flaps at the edges of the frame I, as shown in Figure 1. When these flaps are folded backward, the device will, therefore, have the same appearance as that shown in Figure 2, and the animals and other objects may be cut out of the piece of material 2I that is cut from the frame I, or provided by any means. It will be understood that the animals or objects, of the device shown in Figure 1, may also be cut. from the material 2I., and that page 5 may be omitted.

In the design shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper edge 42 of the back 2 is provided with notches 43 and a strip of material 44 may be supported in these notches, as shown in Figure '5,

. terial and may be slightly colored. With a thin transparent curtain of this description hanging between the frame .I and the back 2, it will be possible to produce different color eifects in order to improve the scene, and it will also. be possible to change the scene from day to'night' or vice versa. Objects may also he placed upon the cure tain 45, as indicated by the numeral 46, andv where a water scene is used,.fish'ina.- be placed 7 upon the curtain, so that they will appear to be swimming through the scene; Another sheet of thin transparent materialv 4'I may also be placed on the back of the frame I, as shown in- Figure 5, and this may be used independently or r in combination with the curtain 45, or with any number of curtains or drops, so that anydesired effects may be produced. The curtains 45' and 41 may be continuous or may also be provided in different designs. or shapes to represent the-.- atrical drops. so that substantially any ettin desired may be obtained. These curtains, m y also be provided or supported'in'any manner.

In the design shown in Figures 5 and- 6, the

lower edge of-the back 2 may also. be. pr vid d with a slit 48' in which a tab 49 on the base 3 may be inserted and hel t ho d the. lower ed e of he b ck, downward upon the base; and thebase may also be PITQVlded with tabs 50 and'5I- which may be raised upward as shown in Figure 5, to bear against the outer surface of the back, to hold it in shape with the back curved as shown in dotted lines, in Figure 6. It will be understood that as many of these tabs as may be de-. sired may be used. Similar tabs 52 may alsobe provided in the design shown in Figure3, and these may be pressed upward from the base 3 to assist in holding the back in the curved position as shown. These may be used in combination with the tabs 29 and 30, as shown, or either may be omitted, especially in small models. Additional tabs 53 may also be provided in the strip at the lower end of the frame has shown in, Figure 6, and these may be inserted in the slits 54in the base 3, when the strip 20 at the lowe end of the front or frame is folded upon'the base. Any of these tabs may be made in any' other shape, or may be arranged in any other manner, or any other means may be used for holding the parts at the different points.

The design shown in Figures 7 and 8 embodies the same principles of construction, and this design is inserted to illustrate that the device may be used in combination with cereal or other pro-s duce boxes or containers, as the scene and ani. male and other representations may be printed on either the inside or outside of the box, and

after the product has been used from the box, 5,

parts thereof may be removed and the back, front and sides folded, as shown in Figure 8, to obtain a settingsimilar to that shown in Figure 2. It willbe understood, however,that Whereas the box may be turned inside out, it may also be made as shown with the top removed, and the ends folded to form the complete set.

' In this'design the front of the box is provider. with a removable section 55 and the animals or other-objects may be printed on the back of this section, and the scene printed 'on the back 58. and it will be not edthat the front may be folded on the line 51 which is similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the back may be curved at the points 58, which is similar to the fold shown in Figure 2, or these parts may be shaped and folded in any manner.

In Figure 8, the front or frame is folded outward instead of backward, as shown in Figure 5, thereby extending the front from the lower edge 59 of the box outward beyond the base thereof, and thereby increasing the distance between the front and back. The front l is folded upward on the line 5'! and the strip 20 folded outward from the line 59. The ends 60 and BI, which are formed by the flaps extending from the front of the box, are cut on the line 62, and the rear edges are provided with tabs 63 and 64 which are bent inward and inserted in slots 65 and 66 of the ends extending from the back 56, in order to hold the back in place. Tabs 61 may also be bent upward from the base, as shown in Figure 8, to assist in holding the back. The upper edge of the back and the flaps at the ends thereof, may be cut on the line 68 so that they will be of the same height as the front.

It will also be understood that these parts may be formed or shaped or folded in any manner to provide the stage setting from the parts of the box.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction, without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of this device as an educational toy, or for advertising, and the names, pictures, or other representations may be used thereon, another may be in the use of this method of folding or shaping sheets of material, to form a stage set of any other shape, another may be in the use of this method of forming objects for forming windows or any other devices or objects, and still another may be in the use of other means for holding any of the parts. The design provided in book form may also be made with any number of pages, and the legend or text may be provided on the back of the back drop 2, or on any other part thereof, and the animals or objects may be provided on the back of the part removed from the front or frame I, or provided as separate units. The base may also be formed in any other manner.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the device is preferably provided in folder, or book form, with the scenes, animals, and objects printed on the respective parts thereof, and directions may also be printed on other parts, and a. legend or text explaining the scene, or animals, or objects therein, or a history or story about the particular set, may be printed on the back of the back drop or on any of the parts, and this complete device may be sold through retail stores, or used as premiums or advertising novelties, as may be desired.

The device may readily be set up by cutting or pressing the different parts on the cut lines, and when set up the device comprises a frame with a back or drop, and animals set in front of the back or between the frame and back, and these parts are mounted on a base and positioned so that one may look through the frame to see the scene and animals or objects.

As hereinbefore stated this device may be used as an educational toy or just as a novelty or for advertising and also for various other purposes.

terial, one of which contains representations of a M frame, another a scene, and another constituting a base, and means for mounting the sheets of material containing the frame and scene upon the base, with the scene forming a back drop positioned behind the frame and adapted to be seen therethrough, and said scene and frame forming a stage set.

2. A display device comprising a folder with one section thereof containing representations of a frame with a folding strip at the bottom and side flaps adapted to be folded backward at the ends thereof, and in which the central portion may be removed; another section represents a base upon which the fold strip at the lower edge of the frame may be folded; and another section K represents a scene adapted to be shaped in a curved position to represent the back drop of a stage with the ends folded between the side flaps extending backward from the frame, said scene positioned behind said frame and adapted to be observed therethrough.

3. A device as described in claim 2 having tabs formed on some of said parts adapted to be held in slits in adjoining parts.

4. A device as described in claim 2 in which animals or objects are imprinted upon the central portion removed from the frame and adapted to be removed therefrom and set up between the frame and scene.

5. A folder having several pages with parts thereof adapted to be removed, folded and set up to form a stage setting comprising a frame forming the stage front, a back drop having a scene thereon, and a base, and means mounting said frame and back drop upon said base.

6. A device as described in claim 5 in which the representations of the different parts are cut from the respective pages.

7. A device as described in claim 5 in which the representations. of the respective parts are marked on the respective pages and adapted to be removed therefrom, folded and set up with parts of one page interlocking with other parts formed on another page forming the mounting means.

8. A display device comprising a booklet having several pages, with one page adapted to form a base, another adapted to be folded to a position perpendicular to the base, and having an opening therein forming a frame representing the front of a. stage or the like, and another adapted to be positioned upon said base and cooperating with said frame to form the back drop of a stage, and said page forming the back drop having tabs extending from the edges thereof, adapted to be inserted in slits in the base and and similar also into flaps extending backwardly from the ends' of the frame.

'9. A device as described in claim 8 in which the page forming the frame is first folded backward upon the base, positioning the front of the frame,

a short distance back of the edge of the base;

10. A device as described in claim 8 in which the page upon which the frame is formed is carried by the page forming thebase.

11. The combination with a'device, as described in claim 8, of animals and objects adapted to be set up between the frame and back. 7

s 12. The combination with a device as described in claim 8; of animals and objects posiz osmcr V 16. A device as described in claim 5; having 10 transparent drops positioned in front of the back and objects on said drops. 7

' CHARLES CLARK. 

